Maine town awaits names in prostitution case

Published 5:32 PM ET Sun, 11 Nov 2012
The Associated Press

KENNEBUNK, Maine -- Townspeople were waiting with curiosity for the names of people who have been issued summons for allegedly giving business to a local fitness instructor charged with running a prostitution operation out of her Zumba fitness studio and a small office in this southern Maine town.

Alexis Wright, a 29-year-old fitness instructor from Wells, has pleaded not guilty to 106 counts of prostitution, invasion of privacy, tax evasion and other charges for allegedly accepting money for sex and secretly videotaping her encounters. Her business partner, Mark Strong Sr., a 57-year-old insurance agent and private investigator from Thomaston, has pleaded not guilty to 59 misdemeanor charges for his alleged role.

Searches of Wright's studio and office have turned up video recordings of sexual acts, billing information and meticulous records about clients, according to court documents.

Based on that information, Kennebunk police have been begun issuing summons to Wright's johns on misdemeanor charges of engaging a prostitute. The names are to be released Friday in police activity reports that are made public every other week, said Lt. Anthony Burpee.

The existence of such a list has fueled speculation about who is on it. Residents have said they've heard it could include lawyers, law enforcement officers and some well-known names. On Thursday, a lawyer for two alleged clients filed a motion to block the release of the names.

Strong's attorney, Dan Lilley, has said he has a list of or more than 150 people who were alleged customers, but that he wouldn't release the names unless they're called as witnesses if the case goes to trial.

The case has rocked this small town, which is well-known for its ocean beaches, old sea captains' mansions and the neighboring town of Kennebunkport, home to the Bush family's Walker's Point summer compound